Chapter 7: Waiting for your message

I couldn't stop tossing and turning in bed, my thoughts constantly drifting back to him. Wait a minute, I thought to myself, I can at least send him a message to let him know I've safely reached the hostel, right? I quickly grabbed my phone and sent him a message on WeChat, telling him I had arrived safely and asking if he had gotten back to his place as well.

I didn't want to miss his reply, so I decided to keep myself awake, scrolling through the latest entertainment news to distract my mind. Every now and then, I would glance at my phone, waiting for a notification. I was so focused on the screen that I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep until my alarm blared at 4:00 am.

My flight was departing at exactly 8:00 am, so I had only three hours to get myself ready for the airport. My mind, still groggy, snapped to attention as I frantically turned my bed into a mess, searching for my phone. Finally, I found it under my pillow. My hands were shaking as I quickly opened WeChat. There was no message from Wen Lin.

Well, he must be tired from the party yesterday, I told myself. He did mention he'd be traveling at 7:00 am. Maybe when he gets to his hostel, he'll message me.

Despite my disappointment, a small, irrational spark of hope still lingered. I had packed everything the night before, so I didn't have much to do. I decided to shower and head to the airport. Since it was still early, I tried to lie down again, but sleep was impossible. My mind was too busy racing, and all the excitement I had about going home seemed to fade away, replaced by thoughts of Wen Lin.

I had no idea how much time had passed when I finally snapped out of my thoughts. It was already 6:30 am, and I hadn't even started getting ready. Panicking, I jumped out of bed and rushed into the shower. I quickly pulled on a short pink dress, slipped into some comfortable sneakers, and grabbed my side bag and suitcase. I was good to go.

Standing at the school gate, waiting for a taxi, memories of my time at the university flooded back. This place had been my home for the past four years, filled with laughter, stress, late nights, and new beginnings. It had shaped me into who I was today, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia as I stood there one last time.

As I waited for the car, my mind wandered back to Wen Lin. I had tried to convince myself it was just a fleeting encounter, but something about him lingered in my thoughts, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I wanted to know him better.